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A new advisory committee to try to extend Cook County's no-strings-attached handout program.
Summary and audio linked here.
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Full interview and summary linked here.
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Taxpayer funded Democrat vote buying program. Plain and simple.
All I could think of seeing the 3 photos on the main page is. Now try to get that song out of your head. Sorry.
Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am
Stuck in the middle with you
The article states that the large number of applicants indicates “the immense demand for economic relief”. They’re handing out $12,000 in cash! With no strings attached! Who wouldn’t want to get in on that deal?
How much is going to non minority suburbanites?
Further cementing dependency is the far likelier result.
Perhaps they should use this money to create JOBS for these people.
Who’da thunk? Looks like creating committees, review boards and giant administrative staff is as or more important as handing out a couple $mil in welfare checks.
What are administrative costs for comitee members, staff w benefits, etc, etc for each $1 handed out would seem a reasonable question?
What’s the criteria to get a check?
Good thing Illinois and Crook County are flush with collected property taxes.
Note, it says the funding was federal! Free money! Working families in Utah and Texas and Florida and California are paying for Chicago folks to throw birthday parties and eat out! Woo hoo!
Federal free money that is being redirected into this payoff scheme.
Illinois is a joke. Crook County is the punch line.
Until we see the demographics of the recipients of the program it is highly suspect. For all we can tell everyone of Preckwinkle’s cronies could’ve had received all the money. Of course none of this information is public information. I predict the results of these studies will only show glowing, not satisfactory but glowing results simply because that is they way they planned it. Watch and see.
Apparently the reports, being done by University of Chicago folk, are yet to be completed. I wonder whether there is a control group, of people similar to the recipients, who get only a very minimal stipend in order to get them to show up for interviews.
I do not trust people with a ‘frown smile’ – my dislike is based on experience.
I don’t trust anybody smiling in Chicago. Or Illinois.
Chicago is flush with money.
Congratulations to the 4 DEMS who voted for it! At least they have guts and hoesty.
Feel sorry for the Chicago residents who are being robbed to give money to people for no legitimate reason notwithstanding studies that have shown guaranteed income is not effective. Typical Chicago government action. Pathetic.
“studies that have shown guaranteed income is not effective” Can you cite one or more of these studies?
I actually thought I read this wrong…this is actually a cash give-away. Period. Incredible. The article does do a great job of describing how this $42M “program” makes the participants feel better and less stressful. That’s lovely. No, really – Glad to help. Less stress is important, when do you suppose the government is going to do something for the friggin average tax payer to help reduce stress on say…paying ridiculous property taxes? Once again, give-away programs that provide absolutely nothing for the average tax payer… Did this “program” help lift people off of the government dole and reduce the… Read more »
A lot of things don’t bother me so much as property taxes do. They are a good chunk of our income. If you have the chance contact your local state rep or senator and let them know on how you feel about property taxes. Go to their office if possible. Be nice and they will listen but if you lose your cool they won’t do anything.Give them your ideas Let them know you may vote differently next time for either party you choose. They want to keep in office especially if they are republicans. The more people that go and… Read more »
Blatantly racist. How about Guaranteed jobs?
The money would be better spent on tutoring kids to educate them so they will succeed as adults. We know CPS doesn’t educate students. Handouts keep people dependent on government, which is what Democrats want to buy votes.
Heaven knows that we need to reduce the stress leeches on society must feel as they spend their free money on instant gratification while ignoring their responsibilities. Oh, the horror!
Oh, what as surprise. A survey found that recipients like getting checks handed to them. And what’s missing is the usual. Nobody asks how many people were lifted up and out of government dependency.
If you look at what determines poverty standards the amount on the welfare checks is the main criteria. So if a family has 3 people income guidelines are approx $26K but the value of all the freebies are not factored in like child care/medical/food stamps/utility assistance-transportation/subsidized housing-education? and on and on. The value of all these free programs is considerable and add that to income. Here is some info and charts. Click on programs and resources and scroll down and you see Khan Academy and other free educational options. https://povertylevelcalculator.com/poverty-level-calculation-tables/ P.S. Had a good 73rd birthday yesterday and I took… Read more »
Good for you, Freddy. Happy birthday.
Mixed results. No discussion of moving off government programs. Bottom line: everyone liked the additional money, and made what are likely temporary changes based on cash-flow change. See: https://19thnews.org/2024/07/study-guaranteed-income-program-results/